[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING THE COMMISSION ON ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ON THE OCCASION 
                        OF ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask you and my esteemed 
colleagues in the House of Representatives to pay tribute to the 
Commission on Economic Opportunity, located in the City of Wilkes-
Barre, Pennsylvania, for 40 years of exemplary community service.
  Created on November 3, 1966, pursuant to the Economic Opportunity Act 
of 1964, CEO was designated by the Luzerne County Board of 
Commissioners which included Edmund C. Wideman Jr., James Post and 
William Goss.
  The mission of the agency has always been to empower the less 
fortunate in our community by providing the resources needed to improve 
the quality of their lives. Over the years, CEO has developed an array 
of services to assist people. The weatherization program has had great 
success helping people with older housing stock insulate their homes in 
order to save money on heating fuel. The Chore program has given older 
citizens and low-income individuals the opportunity to repair essential 
elements of their homes at affordable prices.
  CEO came to the aid of senior citizens in the wake of the devastating 
Flood of 1972 by developing Washington Square Towers, an apartment 
complex for the elderly. For nearly 20 years, CEO operated a successful 
senior citizens market that enabled the elderly to save significant 
sums on basic food items. Today, CEO's Weinberg Food Bank provides 
staple food items to those who meet income guidelines.
  Indeed, over the years, CEO has fostered several community services 
that eventually became independent entities. These include Legal 
Services, Rural Health Corporation, Maternal and Family Health 
Services, Child Development Council, Luzerne County Human Resources 
Development Department and Head Start.
  The original incorporators of CEO included Gottfried Csala, Mrs. 
Horace Kramer, George Troy, Carlo Poerio and Raymond Batow.
  Today, CEO's board of directors officers include Monsignor Andrew J. 
McGowan, president; Attorney David Aikens, vice president; John Namey, 
vice president; Gary F. Lamont, treasurer; and Marie McCormick, 
secretary.
  The board also includes Peter D. Aula, Jollene Bradford, Attorney 
Joseph Cannody; William Cherkes, Attorney David Glassberg, Judge Hugh 
F. Mundy, George Nicholson, Michael Pasonick Jr., Rev. Wallace Smith 
and Estelle Stryjewski. CEO's professional staff operates under the 
continued leadership of Gene Brady, who was appointed executive 
director of CEO in 1978.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating CEO on 40 years of 
remarkable achievements that have touched the lives of tens of 
thousands of residents in northeastern Pennsylvania.

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